English Program Requirements for 2024-2025

B.A. in English

A  grade point average of 2.00 is required for all English (ENGL) courses taken in residence that may be applied to the major.

Requirements

Introductory Courses – 10 credits

  • ENGL 200C – Literary Analysis (3)
  • ENGL 201 – Career Seminar (1)
  • ENGL 253 – Intro to Creative Writing (3)
  • ENGL 259 – Argument and Persuasion (3)

Cultural Contexts* – 3 credits

Choose ONE course from the following:

  • ENGL 332 – Borderlands Literature (3)
  • ENGL 335 – Studies in AFAM Literature (3)
  • ENGL 337 – Multicultural Literature (3)
  • ENGL 347 – Studies in Postcolonialism (3)
  • ENGL 381 – The Rhetoric of Hate (3)

Visual and Digital Approaches* – 3 credits

Choose ONE course from the following:

  • ENGL 346 – Hacking the Humanities (3)
  • ENGL 356 – Editing and Publishing (3)
  • ENGL 361 – Writing with New Media (3)

Electives* – 18 credits

  • Six English electives (ENGL) may be chosen at the 200/2000 level or above; excluding ENGL 3990.  ENGL 3990 may not be used as a major elective.

English Capstone – 3 credits

  • Choose ONE:
    • ENGL 420 – Senior Seminar (3)
    • ENGL 425 – Senior Experience (3)

Total: 37 credits

*In making course selections from these categories, note that at least five major courses must be taken at or above the 300 level. (including those in the Cultural Contexts and Visual and Digital Approaches categories, but in addition to the capstone selection)

Note: The requirements for English majors who are also inclusive adolescence education majors are more specific than those noted above. Please refer to the requirements below for the inclusive adolescence education/English dual major.

Honors Options in English

The English department offers a degree with Honors in English to qualified students who complete a substantial project in literary or rhetorical criticism or creative writing. Students must have at least a 3.50 GPA in English courses and a 3.50 GPA overall. Candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Enroll in ENGL 498H and/or ENGL 499H and receive an “A” on the honors paper or project.
  • Share their work from the course in a presentation to department faculty (and optionally the wider public). The presentation is usually held during the week of final exams.

Inclusive Adolescence Education/English Dual Major

Students pursuing teaching certification in inclusive adolescence education (English) may dual major in inclusive adolescence education and English, and earn a Bachelor of Science degree. In addition to meeting all of the inclusive adolescence education requirements (40–43 credits: see Inclusive Adolescence Education for details) the English Department, in conjunction with the Education Department, has outlined the following requirement for the English major. Students must earn grades of “C” or higher in all courses in the content area.

  • ENGL 200 – Literary Analysis (3)
  • ENGL 201 – Career Seminar (1)
  • ENGL 203C – History of English Language (3)
  • ENGL 211 – P1 Young Adult Literature (3)
  • ENGL 259 – Argument and Persuasion (3)
  • ENGL 312C – P1 Shakespeare (3)
  • ENGL 253 – P1 Introduction to Creative Writing (3)
  • Choose TWO courses from Cultural Contexts:
    • ENGL 335 – Studies in African American Literature (3) OR ENGL 337 – Multicultural Literature (3)
    • ENGL 332 – Borderlands Literature (3) OR ENGL 347 – Studies in Postcolonialism (3)
  • Choose ONE course from Visual and Digital Media:
    • ENGL 346 – Hacking the Humanities (3)
    • ENGL 361 – Writing with New Media (3)
  • Choose TWO survey courses from:
    • ENGL 293 – P1 Early English Literature (3)
    • ENGL 295 – P1 Literary Revolutions (3)
    • ENGL 297 – P1 Readings in American Literature (3)
  • Capstone:
    • ENGL 420 – Senior Seminar (3)

Total: 37 credits  

As early as possible, students should consult with an education advisor to set up a program leading to certification.

Inclusive Adolescence Education Major with an English Concentration

Students pursuing teaching certification in inclusive adolescence education (English) may opt to have a concentration in English literature rather than a major, resulting in a Bachelor of Science degree. In addition to meeting all of the inclusive adolescence education requirements (40–43 credits: see Inclusive Adolescence Education for details), the English Department in conjunction with the Education Department, has outlined the following courses which meet the New York state requirement for English certification. Students must earn grades of “C” or higher in all courses in the content area.

  • ENGL 200C – Literary Analysis (3)
  • ENGL 203C – History of English Language (3)
  • ENGL 211 – P1 Young Adult Literature (3)
  • ENGL 259 – Argument and Persuasion (3)
  • ENGL 312C – P1 Shakespeare (3)
  • Choose ONE course from Cultural Contexts:
    • ENGL 332 – Borderlands Literature (3)
    • ENGL 335 – Studies in African American Literature (3)
    • ENGL 337 – Multicultural Literature (3)
    • ENGL 347 – Studies in Postcolonialism (3)
  • Choose ONE course from Visual and Digital Approaches:
    • ENGL 346 – Hacking the Humanities (3)
    • ENGL 356 – Editing and Publishing (3)
    • ENGL 361 – Writing with New Media (3)
  • Choose TWO survey courses from:
    • ENGL 293 – P1 Early English Literature (3)
    • ENGL 295 – P1 Literary Revolutions (3)
    • ENGL 297 – P1 Readings in American Literature (3)
  • Capstone:
    • ENGL 420 – Senior Seminar (3)

Total: 30 credits

Inclusive Childhood Education With a Liberal Arts Major/Concentration in English

Students pursuing teaching certification in inclusive childhood education must declare either a second major or a concentration in a liberal arts field. Either choice results in a Bachelor of Science degree. Inclusive childhood education majors who wish to pursue a dual major with English take all of the major requirements as listed above for a B.A. in English in addition to meeting all of the inclusive childhood education requirements (49-52 credits: see Inclusive Childhood Education for details). If an inclusive childhood education major wishes to complete a concentration in English, the English Department in conjunction with the Education Department, has outlined the following courses which meet the New York state requirement for a liberal arts concentration in this field. Students must earn grades of “C” or higher in all courses in the content area.

English Concentration Requirements

  • ENGL 200C – Literary Analysis (3)
  • ENGL 253 – Intro to Creative Writing (3)
  • ENGL 259 – Argument and Persuasion (3)
  • ONE* course from Cultural Contexts (3)
  • ONE* course from Visual and Digital Approaches (3)
  • FOUR English elective (12); excluding ENGL 3990.  ENGL 3990 may not be used as a major elective. In choosing electives, two courses (in addition to the Cultural Contexts, Visual and Digital Approaches, and capstone selection) must be taken at or above the 300 level.
  • Choose ONE capstone:
    • ENGL 420 – Senior Seminar (3)
    • ENGL 425 – Senior Experience (3)

Total: 30 credits

Minor in English

A grade point average of 2.00 is required for all English (ENGL) courses taken in residence that may be applied to the minor.

Requirements

  • ENGL 200C – Literary Analysis (3)
  • ENGL 253 – Intro to Creative Writing (3)
  • ENGL 259 – Argument and Persuasion (3)
  • FIVE ENGL electives: two courses chosen from ENGL 180 and/or any English courses at the 200/2000 level or beyond; and two must be at the 300 level or beyond (15). ENGL 3990 may not be used as a minor elective.

Total: 18 credits

Note: Only one course applied to a student’s major may also be used to meet a requirement in the student’s English minor.

The English department also offers a certificate in public and professional writing.

Note: The program requirements listed are for the current academic year. Past and future program requirements may differ.